The Mathews High School junior varsity volleyball team began its season at home last Tuesday, Sept. 2 when it hosted the Northumberland Indians. The Lady Devils dropped consecutive sets to the Indians, 25-18 and 25-21.

Although they lost this first match, head coach Tina Reece is optimistic about the 2014 season. She said, “We played very well as a team considering it was our first game. We had some mental issues in the game but physically we looked pretty good. We passed well and served well as a team.”

The Mathews squad is a young one. Returning to the team this season are sophomore Harley Haydon and freshmen Emily Carmine, Tori Hicks, Taylor Locey and Lauren Mitchem. Newcomers include freshmen Kate Respress and Ashley Shackelford, and eighth graders Victoria Bing, Sarah Brown, Morgan Buchanan, Caroline Crittenden, Madisyn Jackson and Hannah Mathias. Following their opening loss, the JV Devils won two matches, easily defeating both Rappahannock and Lancaster high school...